011. "Water on the Hands of Elijah"

"Water on the Hands of Elijah"

(2 Kings 3:11) "Here is Elisha, who poured water on the hands of Elijah." The same practice prevails to this day. Nowhere is water poured into a basin, but the servant pours water from a pitcher on the hands of his master. Washing of feet was very common, and, in a hot country where sandals were worn, would be essential to comfort. "Moab is my washpot" (Psalms 60:8). Moab was doomed to the most abject and degrading servitude. In the practice of washing the feet there was the combination of humility with affectionate attention; and the Savior washed his disciples’ feet, designing by a symbolic action to teach an important truth. If the Master had performed an office so needful and yet so lowly, how much more were the disciples themselves bound to consider any Christian service whatever as a duty, which each was to perform for the other! Love dignifies any service.